How does HopeNow get in contact with trafficked persons?

HopeNow does outreach work on the streets, prisons, asylum reception centres, immigration deportation centres and parks. In addition, HopeNow is a well-known name in the African network. We find that more and more people are contacting us for support from having been referred to us by other persons in the African diaspora.

HopeNow is often contacted by trafficked persons after a police raid on the streets. The arrested persons themselves contact HopeNow, or HopeNow is contacted by somebody else in the African diaspora.

Victims of sexual exploitation are being arrested during police raids on massage parlours and brothels. Referrals might come from the trafficking network itself since they are concerned that they can’t make money on the person. HopeNow supports the arrested persons by interviewing them in prison to have them legally identified as trafficked to be released from jail. Before these interviews, HopeNow has often already contacted the persons during our outreach work. Also, therapeutic support is offered to them in prison.

If a presumed victim is detected at different immigration detention centres or asylum centres, Hopenow is generally allowed to visit the person by appointment. We regularly visit and provide possible victims with specialised legal assistance.

Times are changing, and the outreach methods must also change. Ever since the pandemic, there has been a decrease in street prostitution, as sexual services have moved to massage parlours, flats and hotels, facilitated by the Internet. HopeNow continues to conduct outreach work in urban areas known for prostitution. We are knowledgeable in the sex exploitation happening in more hidden forms, such as escorts and private flats.